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The Florida head coach was so excited about the start of camp Monday that he barely slept the night before.

“Excited about getting back on the field and coaching,” Muschamp said Monday night. “That's what you get hired to do. That's what I enjoy doing. All of the other stuff, not so much, but the coaching part of it I really enjoy."

Muschamp said he went to bed at midnight and woke up at 3:35 without the help of an alarm.

Muschamp didn't mention how his players slept Sunday night, but he did say they seemed equally energetic about the start of camp Monday coming off the disappointing 4-8 season.

“It's the same every year,” he said. “Everybody's fired up Day 1. Let's find out how they are Day 12. That's the way I look at it. I told them the other night. They're all excited on Day 1. Let's make sure we have that same energy Day 12.”

The veteran players opened camp with a 6:15 a.m. practice at Dizney Lacrosse Stadium on campus. The freshmen followed with a practice Monday night.

Muschamp was asked if his players showed up with an edge about them.

“I think we've seen a very inspired group throughout the summer,” he said. “It's tough a little bit when you're split squad. You don't get all of the bodies there. Not everybody's there in each position, so it's a little different, but it's the best teaching progression for our players.”

Muschamp said there was a very different feel Monday compared to the start of camp a year ago, when the Gators were missing three key injured (or sick) starters — quarterback Jeff Driskel, tailback Matt Jones and offensive guard Jon Halapio.

“Three of our best players offensively,” he said. “ Two of them were out for the entire training camp, and Jeff was out probably 10 or 12 days. Drastically different. But I think we've improved ourself at the receiver position, running back position. They're some good groups."

Driskel and Jones were back and 100 percent for the opening of camp Monday, along with sixth-year wide receiver Andre Debose, who tore an ACL early in camp a year ago and missed the 2013 season.

Driskel stood out Monday, Muschamp said.

“I think Jeff looked really good,” Muschamp said. “You know, a work in progress after that (with the rest of the team). I thought the receivers competed, did a good job. We showed some athleticism on the back end, secondary. I thought we moved well at linebacker doing some things. It's really tough to gauge as far as the line of scrimmage.”

Muschamp commended Debose for putting in the work in rehab to get himself ready for the start of camp.

“He handled the rehab very well. At first, he was very frustrated. As time moved forward, he was very focused on getting back and having a great sixth year,” Muschamp said. “So as far as his level of focus to be where he is right now, because really it takes a full year in my opinion on an ACL for a skill athlete to come back totally from a confidence standpoint, from a soreness standpoint, to be able to battle through those.

“I thought he looked really good this morning, looked fast on the field. I've been nothing but pleased with his rehab coming back from where he was."

Muschamp said Debose will be in full pads Friday for the first day of full contact.

“I think we'll need to monitor his reps, but he will not be held out of any of the contact situations,” Muschamp said. “We will monitor his reps as far as those things are concerned."

The Gators will have another split-squad practice Tuesday, then come together Wednesday for the first full-squad practice. Practices will come open to the public Thursday.

Contact Robbie Andreu at 352-374-5022 or andreur@gvillesun.com. Also check out Andreu's blog at Gatorsports.com.

<p>For some, especially the players, the start of preseason football camp means the beginning of drudgery, of long, hot, hard days on the practice field with the season still a month away, an eternity.</p><p>For Will Muschamp, it's like Christmas morning for a little kid.</p><p>The Florida head coach was so excited about the start of camp Monday that he barely slept the night before.</p><p>“Excited about getting back on the field and coaching,” Muschamp said Monday night. “That's what you get hired to do. That's what I enjoy doing. All of the other stuff, not so much, but the coaching part of it I really enjoy."</p><p>Muschamp said he went to bed at midnight and woke up at 3:35 without the help of an alarm.</p><p>“(I) don't require a lot (of sleep),” he said. “Couple of cups (of coffee) a day. It's been good.”</p><p>Muschamp didn't mention how his players slept Sunday night, but he did say they seemed equally energetic about the start of camp Monday coming off the disappointing 4-8 season.</p><p>“It's the same every year,” he said. “Everybody's fired up Day 1. Let's find out how they are Day 12. That's the way I look at it. I told them the other night. They're all excited on Day 1. Let's make sure we have that same energy Day 12.”</p><p>The veteran players opened camp with a 6:15 a.m. practice at Dizney Lacrosse Stadium on campus. The freshmen followed with a practice Monday night.</p><p>Muschamp was asked if his players showed up with an edge about them.</p><p>“I think we've seen a very inspired group throughout the summer,” he said. “It's tough a little bit when you're split squad. You don't get all of the bodies there. Not everybody's there in each position, so it's a little different, but it's the best teaching progression for our players.”</p><p>Muschamp said there was a very different feel Monday compared to the start of camp a year ago, when the Gators were missing three key injured (or sick) starters — quarterback Jeff Driskel, tailback Matt Jones and offensive guard Jon Halapio.</p><p>“Three of our best players offensively,” he said. “ Two of them were out for the entire training camp, and Jeff was out probably 10 or 12 days. Drastically different. But I think we've improved ourself at the receiver position, running back position. They're some good groups."</p><p>Driskel and Jones were back and 100 percent for the opening of camp Monday, along with sixth-year wide receiver Andre Debose, who tore an ACL early in camp a year ago and missed the 2013 season.</p><p>Driskel stood out Monday, Muschamp said.</p><p>“I think Jeff looked really good,” Muschamp said. “You know, a work in progress after that (with the rest of the team). I thought the receivers competed, did a good job. We showed some athleticism on the back end, secondary. I thought we moved well at linebacker doing some things. It's really tough to gauge as far as the line of scrimmage.”</p><p>Muschamp commended Debose for putting in the work in rehab to get himself ready for the start of camp.</p><p>“He handled the rehab very well. At first, he was very frustrated. As time moved forward, he was very focused on getting back and having a great sixth year,” Muschamp said. “So as far as his level of focus to be where he is right now, because really it takes a full year in my opinion on an ACL for a skill athlete to come back totally from a confidence standpoint, from a soreness standpoint, to be able to battle through those.</p><p>“I thought he looked really good this morning, looked fast on the field. I've been nothing but pleased with his rehab coming back from where he was."</p><p>Muschamp said Debose will be in full pads Friday for the first day of full contact.</p><p>“I think we'll need to monitor his reps, but he will not be held out of any of the contact situations,” Muschamp said. “We will monitor his reps as far as those things are concerned."</p><p>The Gators will have another split-squad practice Tuesday, then come together Wednesday for the first full-squad practice. Practices will come open to the public Thursday.</p><p><i>Contact Robbie Andreu at 352-374-5022 or andreur@gvillesun.com. Also check out Andreu's blog at Gatorsports.com.</i></p>